”“Well, OK. But as Brenda explained, you’re moving forwards, aren’t you?” said Bill.“I suppose I am,” she agreed. “But…”“But…?...�� asked Brenda.“I want to be truly free of all that. Right now!” she stated boldly.“Healing only takes an instant,” Brenda said. “Getting ready to heal is what takes time.”“Wow!” gasped Dianne. “That’s so true!” she said in a slightly heady voice from the smoke.She stood up and sat down again across Bill’s lap, draping one arm around his neck. She looked at us and. And the funnier things got, the more the humor turned to sex. Jamie piped up, “What does the winner get anyway?” Cindy answered, “Great question. We never did establish the prize.” Client or not, Mathew was never one to shy away when opportunity knocks. Besides, this was the perfect cover. He could always hide behind the “too much to drink” line. “Strip bridge seems like the perfect award to me!” Cindy surprised Mathew at her quick response. “Perfect! Jamie, are you in?” Jamie knew better then. There were large tile mosaics on the walls, one was a scene of Edo period city life, the other was Mount Yufu with local wildlife. In the outdoor area it was like the family onsen, but bigger. The stones and landscaping were on a much larger scale and the pool itself was the size of two tennis courts. There were only three other guests using the pool on the men’s side at that time. Alex sat in the water and watched the sky fill with stars as the last light of day faded. After 15 minutes. The journey according to her, had been fairly short, and had been no great joy, though time when your bumping around in pitch darkness and naked, tends to be relative The journey stopped, and the engine quit. the cab door opened, and again closed, a crunching of footfalls on gravel. Then silence reigned, again time meant nothing. I panicked! Had this supposed master dumped me and the van, stealing my credit cards, passport and the like and leaving me to die in this stuffy old van? Time passed,.